Indoor putting training aid

ABSTRACT

A golf putting device allows the golfer to practice putting the golf ball at the proper speed and direction in regard to the distance to the hole and, at the same time, get feedback about each putt. The golf putting training device includes a first inclined side wall, a second inclined side wall parallel to the first inclined side wall, a plurality of supports connected between the first inclined side wall and the second inclined side wall, an elongated arched ramp placed between the first inclined side wall and the second inclined side wall, and a plurality of targets located on the elongated arched ramp, the plurality of targets having diameters decreasing in size from the bottom end to the top end of the elongated arched ramp.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/366,882 filed Jul. 22, 2010, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to golf putting trainingdevices. More particularly, the present invention relates to golfputting training devices that allow the golfer to practice in a confinedspace, strike the ball on the proper line, and, at the same time,provide feedback about the putt.

Golf putting practice devices are designed to help the golfer orient theputter head in the right direction. Unfortunately, the current golfputting devices do not allow the golfer to control the proper force thatneeds to be applied to the golf ball in relation to the distance to thehole.

As can be seen, there is a need for golf putting devices that allow thegolfer to practice putting the golf ball at the proper speed anddirection in regard to the distance to the hole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf putting training deviceincludes a first side wall, a second side wall adjacent to and spacedapart from the first side wall, a plurality of supports connectedbetween the first side wall and the inclined side wall, an elongatedarched ramp placed between the first side wall and the second side wall,and a plurality of targets located on the elongated arched ramp, theplurality of targets having diameters decreasing in size from the bottomend to the top end of the elongated arched ramp.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a golf putting trainingdevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of the golf putting trainingdevice of FIG. 1 showing the putting training device facing an invertedposition;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the golf putting training device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the golf putting training device ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the golf putting training deviceof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide golfputting devices that allow the golfer to practice putting the golf ballat the proper speed and direction in regard to the distance to the holeand, at the same time, getting feedback about each putt.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a golf putting training device 10 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The golf putting trainingdevice 10 may include a first inclined side wall 12, a second inclinedside wall 13 parallel to the first inclined side wall 12, a plurality ofsupports 14 connected between the first inclined side wall 12 and thesecond inclined side wall 13, an elongated arched ramp 18 placed betweenthe first inclined side wall 12 and the second inclined side wall 13,and a plurality of targets 26 having different sizes located throughoutthe length of the elongated arched ramp 18.

The inclination of the first inclined sidewall 12 and the secondinclined side wall 13 may be designed to stabilize and give apredetermined curvature to the elongated arched ramp 18. The firstinclined side wall 12 and the second inclined side wall 13 may have anL-shape. The inclined side walls 12 and 13 may be made from a sturdymaterial. In some embodiments, the inclined side walls 12 and 13 may bemade of fiberglass, plastic, wood, PVC, laminate, composite materials,metals, or the like.

The supports 14 may be designed to receive and hold the first inclinedside wall 12 and the second inclined side wall 13. The supports 14 maybe placed at the bottom end of the inclined side walls 12 and 13. Rampsupports 16 may be placed on an ascending position along the firstinclined side wall 12 and the second inclined side wall 13. The positionof the ramp supports 16 may be raised to give the elongated arched ramp18 a smooth curvature that may use gravity to provide resistance to thegolf ball 28 being rolled up the ramp.

The supports 14 may have ball holders 32. The supports 14 may have oneend connected to the first inclined side wall 12 and the other endconnected to the second inclined side wall 13. The supports 14 may bepositioned on holes 15 located on the inclined side walls 12 and 13. Apin 16 may help secure the ramp 18 to the inclined side walls 12 and 13.The pin 16 may slide from the first inclined side wall 12, through oneof the holes 15, until it reaches the hole 15 on the second inclinedside wall 13. The first inclined side wall 12 and second inclined sidewall 13 may be about 2 feet tall and about 4 feet long. The holes 15 maybe located on the inclined side walls 12 and 13 at a length of 9.5inches and a height of 1.5 inches, at a length of 15.5 inches and aheight of 3.5 inches, at a length of 20.5 inches and a height of 5.5inches, at a length of 26.5 inches and a height of 8.5 inches, at alength of 31.5 inches and a height of 11.5 inches, at a length of 36.5inches and a height of 14.5 inches, at a length of 41.5 inches and aheight of 18.5 inches, and at a length of 45.5 inches and a height of23.5 inches. In some embodiments, first inclined side wall 12 and secondinclined side wall 13 may have a height of 4 feet and a length of 2 feetand the holes may be located on the inclined side walls 12 and 13 at aheight of 2.5 inches and a length of 0.5 inches, at a height of 6.5inches and a length of 5.5 inches, at a height of 11.5 inches and alength of 9.5 inches, at a height of 16.5 inches and a length of 12.5inches, at a height of 21.5 inches and a length of 15.5 inches, at aheight of 27.5 inches and a length of 18.5 inches, at a height of 32.5inches and a length of 20.5 inches, and at a height of 38.5 inches and alength of 22.5 inches.

The pins 16 may be made of any sturdy material. In some embodiments, thepins 16 may be made of fiberglass, wood, PVC, plastic, compositematerials, or metals.

Fasteners 22 may secure the pin 16 in the holes 15. In some embodiments,the fasteners 22 may be screws, bolts and nuts, clips, snaps, or anyother suitable attaching means.

A stopper 20 may be attached to the top end of the elongated arched ramp18 to prevent the golf ball 28 from rolling over the end of theelongated arched ramp 18. The ball stop 20 may be attached to theelongated arched ramp 18 by using fasteners 22. In some embodiments, thefasteners 22 may be screws, bolts and nuts, clips, snaps, or any othersuitable attaching means. The stopper 20 may be removed from theelongated arched ramp 18. The stopper 20 may have a flat shape. In someembodiments, the stopper 20 may be made of fiberglass, wood, PVC,plastic, composite materials, or metals.

The elongated arched ramp 18 may have a smooth rolling surface. Theelongated arched ramp 18 may allow the golf ball 28 to roll up andreturn back down to the starting point by combining gravity and theangle of the slope.

The targets 26 may be located at a central line 29 on the center of theelongated arched ramp 18. The targets 26 may be spaced out evenly toprovide different simulated golf holes with which the golfer maypractice. The central line 29 may be used as a guide to the golfer forproviding feedback as to how straight the golf ball 28 may be rolled upand down the elongated arched ramp 18. The targets 26 may be spacedevenly through the central line 29 of the elongated arched ramp 18. Thediameter of the targets 26 may decrease in size from the bottom to thetop of the elongated arched ramp 18. In some embodiments, the firsttarget 26 may have a diameter of approximately 3.25 inches, the secondtarget 26 may have a diameter of approximately 2.75 inches, the thirdtarget 26 may have a diameter of approximately 2.25 inches, the fourthtarget 26 may have a diameter of approximately 1.75 inches, the fifthtarget 26 may have a diameter of approximately 1.25 inches, and thesixth target 26 may have a diameter of approximately 0.75 inchesrespectively. In some embodiments, the targets 26 may be spaced 10inches from each other. The even spacing of the targets 26 may provideconsistency of practicing the strength of each putt while thediminishing size of the targets 26 may provide a visual similar to thetargets 26 being actually further away from the practice starting point.

The golfer may use the putter 30 to putt the golf ball 28 to one of thetargets 26 of the elongated arched ramp 18.

The ramp can be placed flat on top of the ramp supports pins 16 and canbe connected with clips on the ramp's underside. Clips fixed to theunderside of the ramp can allow the top of the ramp to remain smooth.The ramp can be made from plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, or any othersuitable resilient material.

The golf putting training device 10 may be placed on any flat or levelsurface. The golfer may stand between 2 feet and 15 feet from theentrance of the elongated arched ramp 18 and putt the golf ball 28 upand down the elongated arched ramp 18. The golfer may use each target 26to practice the strength of the putt while using the central line 29 togauge the straightness of the putt. The path of the golf ball 28 withrespect to the central line 29 may provide feedback to the golfer on howwell (straight or correct strength) the putt was hit. The elongatedarched ramp 18 may allow the golf ball 28 to return each time it isrolled, sometimes being stopped by the stopper 20 or being guided backdown the elongated arched ramp 18 by hitting the inclined sidewalls 12and 13.

The golf putting training device 10 may provide the golfer with feedbackabout the speed of the putt, the direction of the putt, and the distancetraveled by the golf ball 28 past the selected targets 26. In addition,the golf putting training device 10 may help the golfer learn toproperly align the golf ball 28 with the target 26.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A golf putting training device comprising: a first side wall; a second side wall parallel adjacent to and spaced apart to the first inclined side wall; a plurality of supports connected between the first side wall and the second side wall; an elongated arched ramp placed between the first side wall and the second side wall, the elongated arched ramp having a top end and a bottom end; and a plurality of targets located on the elongated arched ramp, the targets having diameters decreasing in size from a bottom end to a top end of the elongated arched ramp.
 2. The golf putting training device according to claim 1, wherein first side wall and the second side wall have an inclination.
 3. The golf putting training device according to claim 1, wherein the supports are placed on an ascending position along the first inclined side wall and the second inclined side wall.
 4. The golf putting training device according to claim 1, wherein the support has a ball holder.
 5. The golf putting training device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper attached to the top end of the elongated arched ramp.
 6. The golf putting training device according to claim 1, wherein the targets are located along a central line on the elongated arched ramp.
 7. The golf putting training device according to claim 6, wherein the targets are spaced out evenly along the central line of the elongated arched ramp.
 8. The golf putting training device according to claim 6, wherein the central line provides feedback to a golfer about the straightness of a putt. 